Rail Holidays in Switzerland

Few countries have the allure of Switzerland, particularly when it comes to rail holidays. Glass-roofed trains cater specifically to those who travel in their droves to experience the snow-capped peaks, awe-inspiring glaciers and cosmopolitan cities that make up this small but perfectly formed country. Travel on the Glacier Express from the foothills of the Matterhorn to the world-famous resort of St Moritz. Take a train to the highest station in Europe at Jungfraujoch or glide across crystal-clear lakes on a boat cruise. Take a trip to Mount Titlis, near the quaint village of Engelberg, or visit the dramatic Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. There are also the cities – Zurich, Lausanne and Bern are just some of the cities that lure in visitors from all over the world.

Destination Switzerland

Tailor Made Rail

Switzerland is a stunning country, with its towering peaks, verdant meadows, glacial rivers and clear blue lakes. Even the cows are beautiful! And it’s amazingly easy to get around by public transport with all but the smallest places served by a train station and services running frequently and on time. The country boasts some of the best mountain railways in the world (more on this later) and the steepest cog railway (Pilatus). The food is hearty and delicious with not to be missed dishes including traditional rosti, raclette and of course, fondue, all washed down with fantastic local wines which you can only taste in Switzerland, as they don’t share with the rest of us.

Discover cultural centres like Basel and Zurich as well as less-known but stunning destinations like Bern and Chur. Stunning lakeside resorts like Locarno and Montreux can be combined with the majestic castles of Bellinzona, Reichenbach Falls (where Sherlock Holmes met his end) and exciting cableways into the mountains like Titlis and Schilthorn, where On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was filmed. If you like a scenic train journey, you couldn’t really do much better than the famous Glacier Express or the Bernina Express down across the Italian border. But there are plenty of others to consider, including the Golden Pass route from Montreux up to Interlaken and the Jungfrau Railway, which conveys passengers up to the highest train station in Europe.

Accessing Switzerland from the UK by rail is very easy. There are two main routes we recommend. Paris provides easy access to the French-speaking west of Switzerland, serving cities such as Lausanne and Geneva. If you are heading to Zurich, Chur or Basel, there is the option to travel via Brussels and Frankfurt – connections that do not require a change of station as is necessary in Paris. InterCity trains in Switzerland link major cities such as Geneva, Lausanne, Basel, Zurich and Lugano. Trains are air-conditioned, and most have dining cars and a trolley service of drinks and light refreshments. Reliability is excellent and most staff speak many languages, including English.

Take the train to lovely Lucerne and then walk around the lake front and into the mountains on this stunning hiking holiday. Your route will take you via famous peaks, lush gorges and sweeping Alpine vistas with some breathtaking cable car rides along the way.

Take the train through France to Interlaken, surrounded by the wonders of the Bernese Oberland. Then catch the Belle Epoque or modern panoramic carriages of the Golden Pass line through stunning scenery to Montreux on Lake Geneva.

Take a hike through the stunning Graubunden region of Switzerland, with stops in the famous resorts of Klosters and Arosa on this relaxing holiday by rail. Travel out via Frankfurt and back via Zurich with half-board at your hotels in Switzerland and luggage transfers while you're walking.

Enjoy some fresh mountain air and breathtaking surroundings on a walking holiday in the Bernese Oberland. Your holiday includes nights in Wengen, Grindelwald and Meiringen with luggage transfers between walking locations and detailed directions to guide your route.

Make the most of your winter holiday with a scenic journey through the Alps. Travel from Cologne, through the Rhine Gorge to Salzburg, by panorama coach to Chur, across Switzerland to Zermatt with the Glacier Express and then back to London via Strasbourg.

Journey to the foot of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, then take the world's slowest express train, the Glacier Express, on its full run through to St Moritz. Return home via the Rhine Valley and a night in Cologne.

Take the hiking trail along the UNESCO World Heritage section of the Rhaetian Railway, which regularly offers panoramic views of an over a century-old feat of engineering with a backdrop of stunning Alpine scenery. Combine with rail travel to and from the UK and luggage transfers between hotels for a stress-free walking holiday.

Enjoy a journey on one of the most famous scenic trains, travelling in style with the new Excellence Class on the Glacier Express. Your holiday also includes first class travel on your other rail journeys, luxury hotels and return flights from the UK to maximise your time in Switzerland.

Swiss Rail Passes offer flexibility and great value for money on your Switzerland rail holiday. For a set number of days in a row, or a designated amount of days in one month, you can enjoy unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats on the Swiss Travel System network.

Often dubbed “where Swiss efficiency speaks Italian” Ticino Turismo’s current strap-line “The Sunny Side of Switzerland”. Ticino is a glorious blend of everything that is good about Italy and the clean, orderly Swiss modus operandi.

Known as the most sought-after seats in Switzerland, the Excellence Class on the Glacier Express was introduced in early 2019 as a “super-first” class on board what is one of Europe’s most popular rail journeys.

REGISTERED ADDRESS

117 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UL, United Kingdom

REGISTERED IN ENGLAND & WALES

Company Number: 08816522

Travel Trust Association member: Q2542

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